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Tuesday, 25 October 2016

386) Induction of C-130 J Super Hercules: A Commemorative stamp in the denomination of 500 Paise or Rs.5/- brought out by India Post on 06.10.2016:

386) Induction
of C-130 J Super Hercules: A Commemorative stamp in the denomination of 500
Paise or Rs.5/- brought out by India Post on 06.10.2016:

In 2011, the IAF
celebrated the induction to service of its first Lockheed Martin C-130J Super
Hercules aircraft at Hindon Air Force Station, India on 05.02.2011.

The Aircraft was the first
of six C-130Js, the most potent and versatile aircraft in its class, ordered
under a US Foreign Military Sale in late 2008. The IAF was flying an American
aircraft after a gap of more than two decades, after the “Super Connie”
(Lockheed Super Constellation).

The contract includes six
aircraft, training of Aircrew and Maintenance technicians, spares, ground
support and test equipment, servicing carts, forklifts, loading vehicles, cargo
pallets and a team of technical specialists who were based in India during a
three year initial support period. Also included in the package was
India-unique operational equipment designed to increase Special Operations
capabilities. The remaining five Aircraft were delivered later in 2011.

Capabilities
of the C-130J Super Hercules:

The IAF’s C-130J Super
Hercules is a highly integrated and sophisticated configuration primarily designed
to support India’s Special Operations requirement. Equipped with an Infrared
Detection Set (IDS), the aircraft can perform precision low-level flying,
air-drops and landing in black-out conditions. Self Protection Systems
and other features are included to ensure aircraft survivability in hostile air
defence environments. The Aircraft is also equipped with air-to-air receiver
refuelling capability for extended range operations.

The C-130J is ideally
suited to India’s mission environment, which often involves operating
out of austere, high elevation air-strips, in hot conditions and often involves
operations from Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) located at high
elevations under adverse weather conditions.

The C-130J is powered by
four Rolls Royce AE2100 engines and Dowty six-bladed props that provide the
aircraft with significant power. The C-130J has been operated for the past
several years in the mountainous areas of Afghanistan in conditions similar to
India and performed exceptionally well. This aircraft is utilised to undertake
diverse roles across varied terrain in extreme weather conditions.

The Indian Air Force’s
(IAF) Super Hercules is an Advanced Mobility Special Operations Platform
with maximum payload capacity of 20 Tonnes.

The Super Hercules is a versatile
platform and is equipped with state of the art avionics, navigation and
advanced defensive suite.

Modern electro-optical
infra-red pod, glass cockpit. Head-up displays, in-flight refuelling probe,
enhanced cargo handling system and external fuel tanks are an integral part of
this aircraft.

It has a unique feature of
automated formation flight, wherein 36 aircraft can be flown in
formation, with Station Keeping Equipment (SKE).

The aircraft can also be
used for mass troop deployment, Special Operations, Air to Air refuelling
and Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HA/DR).

The accompanying
information brochure with the Stamps states inter alia, “The aircraft created
history on 20 August 2013, when it was landed at Daulat Beg Oldie, a
strategically placed Advanced Landing Ground. This landing with high all-up
weight at an elevation of 16614 feet above mean sea level, made an entry into
“Limca Book of Records” as the “Heaviest Aircraft” to land at the Highest
Airfield”. This boosted the morale of not only the pilots but also the ground
forces.”

Somehow this information
does not give the entire picture regarding the feats and daring exploits of the
Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots. This is not the first time that a heavy aircraft
has landed at Daulat Beg Oldie airport under extremely adverse conditions, even
with old technology aircraft reminiscent of the legendary phrase “Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines”.
The brochure should read:

“During the Chinese War in 1962, the first aircraft
ever to land and take off again from an air-strip at Daulat Beg Oldie, on the
Chinese border, at the height of about 16,614 feet was an
American supplied Fairfield Packet (Fixed Wing) Aircraft, flown by Squadron
Leader CKS Raje, who set a record for the World's highest landing at that time
and created history in the annals of aviation. Thereafter the Airstrip was
routinely used from 1962-1965, when it was abandoned due to damage by an
earthquake.

Despite its battle-preparedness, the Indian military planners failed to
deploy and effectively use the Indian Air Force against the invading Chinese
forces, resulting in India losing significant air advantage/territory to the
Chinese.

Thereafter
the Airstrip was routinely used from 1962-1965 with Fairfield Packets, until it
was abandoned due to damage by an earthquake making the area unsuitable for
fixed-wing aircraft.

On 20.08.2013, the IAF, once again performed the highest
landing at Daulat Beg Oldie. This time it was a C-130J Aircraft belonging to
the "Veiled Vipers" Squadron based at Hindon Air Force Station at the
Daulat Beg Oldie Airstrip, 41 years after the first landing of the modified
PACKET aircraft during the Chinese Aggression which makes the C-130J as a world
record holder for a medium-lift aircraft landing at this altitude.”

Since induction, C-130J
has been employed as one of the main aircraft for the IAF transport operations
within and outside the Indian subcontinent.

In 2013, as floods
wreaked havoc in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, the aircraft was extensively
utilised in disaster relief operations under the code-name “Operation Rahat” (meaning “Operation Relief”).

In addition to evacuating
distressed personnel, the aircraft was also used as an innovative Fuel Bridge
at a semi-prepared airfield named “Dharasu”.
This proved vital in sustaining prolonged helicopter operations in Uttarakhand
valley towards HA/DR.

The other HA/DR missions
in which the Super Hercules was used, include relief operations in Philippines
post Cyclone “Haiyan”,
Vishakhapatnam post Cyclone “Hud Hud”
and flood relief operations in Myanmar and Chennai.

In September 2014,
Srinagar Valley was hit by torrential rains and flooding of Jhelum River. The
C-130 J aircraft s deployed at short notice in the largest humanitarian aid
operations called “Operation Megh Rahat”
(meaning “Relief during Rains”).

In 2015, the IAF used this
aircraft to airlift necessary recovery equipment to Kathmandu, in the incident
of a Turkish Airlines aircraft which left the busy Kathmandu runway unusable by
any other aircraft.

Barely a month later, when
a devastating earthquake struck Nepal, India was the first country to send its
C-130J for rescue operations in which more than 600 stranded persons were
evacuated and relief material flown in.

The
capabilities of the C-130J Super Hercules allow it to be used towards
projection of IAF’s potential in any part of the globe to protect India’s
national interests. This versatile and potent platform is operated by thorough
professionals and is located at Air Force Station Hindon.

Air
Force Station, Panagarh in West Bengal – the second hub for the next batch of
C-130J Aircraft:

Since 2015, Panagarh
in West Bengal has become the second hub for the C-130J Super Hercules
aircraft. It is designated as the second hub for the next batch of six C-130J
aircraft after induction.

The aircraft operating
surface at Panagarh was constructed from 1942-44 during the Second World
War by the US Allied forces as part of CBI (China-Burma-India) Campaign.

During 1971 War,
the Airbase was activated and two Fighter Squadrons (Sukhoi-7 and MiG-21) were
deployed here for operations.

This World War II Era
Airbase has a refurbished runway, which is capable of operating all aircraft in
the inventory of the IAF:

From
the new runway, IAF has started operating the Super Hercules aircraft beginning
May 2016 and from March 2017, a permanent unit will start.

After making the newly
resurfaced Air Force Station at Panagarh as the second hub for C-130J, the
Indian Air Force (IAF) will base Refueller Aircraft and may also station fighter
aircraft there.

Availability
of Panagarh airfield will enhance strategic capability of IAF in the Eastern
Area of Responsibility (AOR) and will also augment mobility of Mountain Strike
Corps which will be stationed in Panagarh.

This Base will also serve
as a centre during disaster, rescue and relief missions.

The
C-130J aircraft proudly upholds the true tradition and spirit of the Indian Air
Force – “Touch the Sky with Glory”.

A
Commemorative stamp in the denomination of 500 Paise or Rs.5/- brought out by
India Post on 06.10.2016:

The First Day Cover (FDC)
brought out by India Post. It shows a picture of a C-130J Super Hercules
aircraft with its rotors running titled “C-130 Ka Samaveshan” (in Hindi) and “Induction
of C-130” (in English). The 500 Paise or Rs.5/- stamp shows a C-130J in flight
above an airstrip. The Cancellation stamp is of New Delhi GPO and is dated "06.10.2016".

Now carefully look at the
Cancellation stamp. It is inscribed “C-130 Ka Samaveshan” (in Hindi) and “Induction
of C-130” (in English), but the picture on the cancellation is that of an A-380
Boeing Airbus or similar aeroplane, instead of a C-130J Hercules Aircraft. The
wings of the aircraft on the Cancellation stamp are curved as against the “straight”
wings of the C-130J. Also, the aircraft shown on the Cancellation has engines
with "four
jets" instead of "four rotor blades" (seen on the stamps
depicting the C-130 aeroplanes).

These FDCs have been cancelled with error hand-stamps and have become Error
Covers.

The above is an image of
the Full Sheet of 45 stamps issued on the occasion

About Me

I am Rajeev Prasad, a retired State Bank of India officer who had been collecting coins in a shoe box without having a serious interest. Only after quitting my job I got the time to take serious interest in developing my coin collection into a hobby. A pity, because I would have had more opportunity to lay my hands on more 'exclusive coins' while in the Bank. Anyway, as they say,better late than never. If you have any views to share with me regarding this blog , please contact me on my email rajeevprasad1208@gmail.com. I also have a twitter account @prasad_rajeev.
I had an opportunity to participate in a Documentary on the life and times of the 25 paise coin titled “Chal Basi Chavanni” (The four anna/twenty five paise coin passes away), aired by STAR NEWS on 29th and 30th June 2011. The programme helped in making many persons hold back onto their “chavannis”, the little round beauties, instead of returning them to Banks .